Kentish Express Ashford & District
United hit by Welford ban
Shaun Welford faces a three-match ban after being sent off in the win against Erith & Belvedere on Saturday.
The Ashford United No.2 and 14-goal top scorer, who passed the 50 mark for the club with his rapid hat-trick against Deal last week, apologised to the rest of his team-mates in the dressing room afterwards, following his dismissal for violent conduct.
He will now miss Southern Counties East League Premier Division games at Rochester and Crowborough later this month and the re-arranged home fixture against Sevenoaks Town on November 1.
Player-boss Danny Lye said: “Shaun takes quite a few whacks during the course of games and a season.
“He got an elbow in the back of the head, but was really disappointed with his reaction.”
United were due to visit Division 1 bottom club Lewisham Borough in the Macron SCEL Challenge Cup first round tie at Ladywell Arena last night (Wednesday) before a trip to Sutton Athletic in the same stage of the Kent Senior Trophy on Saturday.
Lye wasn’t ruling out playing himself in either of the two games, while resting others who have played in almost every match so far this season.
He said: “We want to win every game we play, and do well in both competitions having reached the Trophy final last season.
“Last year we played Hollands & Blair in the League Cup a few days before the FA Vase tie at Newport, and if that happens again this season I will change things around, and put the youngsters in.”
Pat Kingwell, George Savage (who missed the Erith win due to a one-match ban), Paul Booth (sidelined with a back problem) and George Kamurasi were all due to feature against Lewisham.
Skipper Stuart West misses Saturday’s game after accumulating five bookings.
Loan signing Luke Miller played for parent club Greenwich Borough in their FA Trophy replay defeat against VCD on Tuesday night, and will also feature again on Saturday when they visit Walton Casuals.
‘He got an elbow in the back of the head, but was really disappointed with his reaction’